12 killed, 10 others hurt in Cebu road accident

At least 12 people were killed while 10 others were injured after a predawn minibus race turned deadly in Naga town in Cebu province before dawn Saturday. Citing initial reports, Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong said an ADC liner minibus [GWL-225] carrying the victims was racing another vehicle when it collided head-on with a trailer truck [GWH-298] at about 5 a.m. “Nagkarerahan daw ito. Itong minibus nasa opposite side na, pumunta sa side ng trailer [The driver of the minibus was racing another vehicle and had gone to the opposite lane, before it collided head-on with the truck]," Chiong said in an interview on dzRH radio. As of 8 a.m., rescue workers at the site said there were 12 fatalities, including nine males and three females. Two of the injured were in critical condition. Chiong said other passengers who were injured were rushed to Cebu City for treatment. A separate report by radio dzBB’s Cebu affiliate, dySS, said the fatalities included bus driver Aladdin Lawit and conductor Allan Omingo; and the truck driver who was not immediately identified. It added that the incident caused heavy traffic along the national highway near South General Hospital where the accident occurred. Malacañang ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development Saturday to provide assistance to victims of the incident. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, a native of Cebu, issued the order while hosting a golf game for media at the Malacañang Park in Manila. “I am hereby directing the DSWD to immediately look into this accident and provide all possible assistance to the victims. As a Cebuano I will do everything I can to help," he said on government-run dzRB radio. - GMANews.TV